In the News

The Work Behind Construction Projects

Just before the Great Recession, the U.S. construction industry was booming. In 2006, the industry employed more than 7 million Americans. But between 2007 and 2009, construction employment fell by 1.5 million—to its lowest level since 1998. The industry has bounced back since as the economic recovery progresses: The National Association of Homebuilders estimates that demand for construction workers is now outpacing supply, with 200,000 unfilled construction jobs nationwide.

The labor shortage might be due to the workers who left the industry permanently during the recession, and the image of the industry overall. I spoke with Lanier Spriggs, a construction manager in Chattanooga, Tennessee, about how he found himself in the construction business, the challenges he sees for the industry, and whether his criminal record affects the way people treat him at work. The interview that follows has been lightly edited for length and clarity.